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An elephant seal surprised tourists on a beach in the state of Nayarit this Tuesday when it emerged from the sea to rest on the sand amidst the curious faces of children and adults.
The state Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection reported this Wednesday that upon being notified of the sighting of the marine animal, "protection and evaluation protocols" were activated.
Likewise, they stated that police officers, members of the Secretariat of the Navy, and personnel from the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) are participating in a coordinated effort to monitor the elephant seal.
¿Dónde apareció el elefante marino que es viral en redes sociales?
The peculiar land sighting of the elephant seal took place on the beaches of Los Ayala, located on the coast of Nayarit.
According to the environmental association Grimma (Marine Mammal Research Group), the animal may have come ashore "to rest, thermoregulate, and recover energy, making its presence on the beach a natural behavior".
¿Qué le pasó al elefante marino encontrado en la costa nayarita?
A curious moment went viral on social media where the animal, weighing nearly two tons, was seen "sunbathing" on the beach alongside the local tourists.
Amidst laughter, curiosity, and many cameras, the elephant seal was captured resting at the water's edge, making gestures and rolling comfortably in the sand.
Images show that the area where the animal is located has already been cordoned off to prevent curious onlookers from disturbing the unexpected marine visitor.
¿Identificaron al elefante marino como "Panchito? Esto se sabe
The Grimma research group reported on their social media channels that, due to the characteristics of the elephant seal, "it is very likely that it is 'Panchito'".
Panchito is a marine animal that has been monitored by the scientific community since at least 2020.
It was reported that in that year, Panchito crossed the hemisphere to arrive and live for "several years in the Upper Gulf of California region".
Furthermore, Grimma issued a series of recommendations for the lucky few who are able to see "Panchito" in person to ensure his well-being:
- Tener una distancia mínima de 15 a 20 metros
- No alimentarlo
- No tocarlo ni intentar regresarlo al mar
- No llevar mascotas o cualquier animal de compañía, "ya que pueden estresarlo o generar una reacción defensiva"
- Evitar ruidos fuertes, acercamientos innecesarios o rodearlo para tomar fotografías
[Publicidad]